Appendix B: Glossary
Building Information Modeling (BIM) (CIC Research Program): A process focused on the development, use, and transfer of a digital information model of a building project to improve the design, construction and operations of a project or portfolio of facilities.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) (NBIMS): “the act of creating an electronic model of a facility for the purpose of visualization, engineering analysis, conflict analysis, code criteria checking, cost engineering, as-built product, budgeting and many other purposes.”[10]
Building Information Model (BIM) (NBIMS): A digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition. A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by different stakeholders at different phases of the life cycle of a facility to insert, extract, update or modify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that stakeholder.
BIM Project Execution Plan (BIM PxP or BIM Plan): A planning the results from the BIM Project Execution Planning Process. This document lays out how BIM will be implemented on the project as a result of the decision of the group.
BIM Project Execution Planning Procedure: A process for planning the execution of BIM on a project. It consists of four primary steps: 1) identify BIM Goals and BIM Uses, 2) design BIM Project Execution Process, 3) develop Information Exchanges, 4) define supporting infrastructure for BIM Implementation.
BIM Use: A method or strategy of applying Building Information Modeling during a facility’s lifecycle to achieve one or more specific objectives.
Characteristics (BIM Use): An element used to define the Use of BIM including its purpose and objective, facility element, facility phase, discipline and level of development.
Discipline: Disciplines are the practice areas and specialties of the actors (participants) that carry out the processes and procedures that occur during the life cycle of a construction entity.[11]
Elaboration Characteristics (BIM Use): the second level or tier of BIM Use definition including facility element, discipline, facility phase, and level of development.
Facility Phase: A phase is a period of time in the duration of a construction project identified by the overall character of the construction processes which occur within it.[12]
Facility Element: An Element is a major component, assembly, or “construction entity part which, in itself or in combination with other parts, fulfills a predominating function of the construction entity” (ISO 12006-2).[13]
Goals (BIM): Objectives used to define the potential value of BIM for a project and for project team members. BIM Goals help to define how and why BIM will be used on a project or in an organization.
Level of Development (LoD) (The Uses of BIM): The degree of granularity to which a model element is developed. Level of Development (LoD) (BIMForum): The degree to which the element’s geometry and attached information has been thought through – the degree to which the project team members may rely on the information when using the model.
Objective (BIM): Specific results that when accomplished move the organization toward their BIM goals.
Process (BIM): A generic name for the practice of performing BIM. This process can be planned or unplanned. The BIM Process may also be referred to as the BIM Execution Process or the BIM Project Execution Process. The BIM Project Execution Planning Process suggests diagramming the BIM process using process maps.
Process Maps (BIM): A diagram of how BIM will be applied on a project. The BIM Project Execution Plan proposes two levels of Process Maps: BIM Overview Map and Detailed BIM Use Process Maps.
Project Team: Every participant contracted to work on a project. This may include the owner, designer, contractor, and subcontractor.
Purpose (BIM Use): The specific objective to be achieved when applying Building Information Modeling during a facility’s life. See section 2 for a description of each BIM Use Purpose
Vision (BIM): A picture of what the BIM Implementation is striving to become.
[10] buildingSMART alliance, National Building Information Modeling Standard Version 1 – Part 1: Overview, Principles, and Methodologies
[11] OCCS Development Committee Secretariat, “OmniClass: Table 33 – Disciplines.”
[12] OCCS Development Committee Secretariat, “OmniClass Table 31 – Phases.” 13 OCCS Development Committee Secretariat, “OmniClass Table 21 – Elements.”
[13] OCCS Development Committee Secretariat, “OmniClass Table 21 – Elements.”
